Shoppers divided as controversial new Maltesers chocolate lands in Morrisons stores
The Gingerbread Flavour Maltesers Reindeer has been spotted in Morrisons stores across the UK, leaving shoppers both delighted and baffled.
One eagle-eyed customer shared the find on Facebook, posting: 'Gingerbread Flavour Malteasers Reindeer spotted online at Morrisons.'
The post quickly sparked a flurry of reactions, with chocolate lovers flooding the comments section.
One person said: 'mmmmmmm,' clearly excited to see the seasonal sweet.
But others weren't impressed, saying the festive snack was far too early for shelves.
Another wrote: 'Really? It's July.'
A third joked: 'Gets any easier and jesus would be turning is his cave tomb as we put christmas stock out.'
And one added: 'They haven't even got the Back to School stuff out yet.'
Some simply tagged their mates in disbelief, while others asked if anyone had actually tried them yet.
It's not just Morrisons jumping the gun on seasonal stock — other supermarkets have also caused a stir with early releases and unusual chocolate twists.
We've outdone ourselves with this one' say Cadbury Ireland as they reveal new limited edition bar 'coming soon
Meanwhile, Asda shoppers spotted Cadbury Dairy Milk Mint Bars hitting shelves unexpectedly in early June, drawing mixed reviews.
And B&M shocked chocoholics by dropping a Caramilk Mint Twirl, a flavour not yet seen in the big four supermarkets.
Even TK Maxx — better known for fashion and homeware — has been selling supermarket-style chocolate and sweets, with shelves packed full of branded snacks, seasonal American imports, and quirky flavours.
Retailers are increasingly bringing in seasonal or limited-edition products earlier in the year — hoping to boost excitement and test demand ahead of busy periods like Halloween and Christmas.
But while some shoppers welcome the early treats, others say it ruins the excitement when festive favourites appear months in advance.
How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs...
Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars.
Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
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BBC News
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Ozzy Osbourne: Bandmates and fans pay tribute to Black Sabbath singer
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